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Your Grit Determines Your Expertise

Cathie Leimbach • November 1, 2022

In her book, GRIT, Angela Duckworth shares how all of us can develop our grit to become an expert in our chosen field. The process itself is simple, although it is not easy.

Grit is the ability to persist towards a goal even when we experience setbacks. Duckworth further defines grit as ‘having the passion and perseverance for long-term goals’. 

Passion is having a strong feeling or emotion. If we have a strong interest in something – great enthusiasm for the topic – we want to give it time and energy.  We work well into the night. We might prefer to spend Friday night learning more about our favorite topic than going to a movie with friends. We share our excitement at a family picnic or during Thanksgiving dinner. Our passion is evident!

Persistence is doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.  When our future goal truly matters to us, we are driven by the prospect of long-term success rather than focusing on short-term rewards or fun. We have the discipline to work towards the goal day after day, week after week. Being persistent includes acknowledging progress along the way rather than being discouraged by the investment required along the way.

Becoming an expert takes 10,000 hours of quality practice or experience, often over 5 to 10 years. It is important to make step-by-step progress along the way. We can’t become an expert in everything at once. The way highly successful people become experts, is by developing their expertise bit by bit. They follow the ‘expert practice’ model. This involves practicing one part of the skill set, practicing it with full concentration, getting timely feedback, and modifying your approach in response to the feedback. 

Living with grit to become an expert, requires that we are passionate about the long-term goal, we are persistent about moving forward despite setbacks, and we are intentional about practicing expert behavior bit by bit.

What goal are you so passionate about that you are willing to persist with years of expert practice to attain?

The Four Cs of Effective Conversation

By Cathie Leimbach • February 18, 2025
Based on “Four Cs of Effective Conversation” - The Ohio State University Leadership Center. Ever walked out of a meeting thinking everything was settled, only to realize later that key actions didn’t happen, or alignment was off? That’s because effective conversations require four key elements: clarity, candor, commitment, and completion. Clarity: Make Sure Everyone’s on the Same Page Miscommunication is one of the biggest productivity killers. It’s easy to assume people understand what’s being said, but without clear expectations, mistakes happen. Take the time to check for understanding—what’s obvious to you might not be obvious to everyone else. Candor: Say What You Mean, Mean What You Say Honest, direct conversations build strong teams. When people hold back their real thoughts or concerns, issues fester, and progress stalls. Creating a culture of candor—where people feel safe to speak openly—makes teams more effective and relationships stronger. Commitment: Get Specific About Next Steps A vague “I’ll handle it” often leads to dropped balls. When commitments are specific—who will do what by when—things actually get done. Leaders sometimes hesitate to ask for deadlines, fearing it feels like micromanagement, but clear commitments drive accountability without overstepping. Completion: Don’t Move On Too Soon Before wrapping up a discussion, check that everything’s been addressed. Did we answer all key questions? Does everyone know what happens next? Ensuring a topic is fully covered prevents confusion later and keeps teams aligned.  Mastering these four Cs can turn routine workplace conversations into powerful tools for productivity and collaboration.

Improve Leadership to Boost Workplace Productivity

By Cathie Leimbach • February 11, 2025
Today's workplaces are changing, and managers play a key role in increasing workplace morale and productivity. Research shows that managers impact 70% of what affects how engaged and effective employees are. Surveys show many employees are dissatisfied. They say that expectations are unclear, they don’t feel respected by management, they don’t get enough training, and they don't see how their work matters. With the increasing number of seniors and fewer people in the workforce, increased productivity is essential. Strong leadership is more important than ever. Managers need to develop skills to help their teams succeed. This includes: • Setting clear goals, • Showing appreciation, • Providing good training, and • Helping employees see the purpose of their work. The innovative Conversational Management program helps managers build these leadership skills. It focuses on the leadership practices which boost engagement and productivity. Managers can participate in a virtual Test Drive to see how these strategies can improve teamwork and performance. If you want better results and productivity, REGISTER HERE to join a Test Drive and learn about this highly effective leadership approach! 
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